MovieChat Forums > Ran (1985) Discussion > Just watched it for the 1st time

Just watched it for the 1st time

posted 15 years ago by BurnItDwn
30 replies | jump to latest

I've seen several of Akira Kurosawa's other masterpieces, I now believe this to be his opus. This film goes beyond all other films I have ever come across. Clearly a 10/10 from my prospective. I am completely blown away.

Edit::: June 30 2010
In the last year I've seen pretty much all of Kurosawa's films.
I bought a copy of the criterion Box Set (25 Kurosawa movies) and watched them all within about 1 month of aquiring the set.
I watched Derzu Uzala and Dreams through Netflix
I've seen Ran twice more.

I've now seen almost all of Kurosawa's films (still need to see Rhapsody in August, and The Quiet Duel though.)

Other favorites are Redbeard, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, and Kagemusha...
I think however, after having seen Ikiru, that I was wrong about Ran. Ran is, without a doubt, a masterpiece of the highest quality. But, Ikiru hit me much harder. I believe it equals, or possibly even surpasses Ran in terms of it's greatness.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] SurlyRed 15 years ago

agreed, in recent weeks I've watched for the first time Seven Samurai, Rashomon and Ran, all wonderful films. I'd like to see more Kurosawa, any suggestions welcome.

[–] j_money77 15 years ago

This is the kind of movie I have almost a natural attraction to. It really makes the epics of today seem too hollow and glossy. It's great to see a giant movie made with ambition and posing legitimate questions that can apply to any time in our history.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] filmluvr81 15 years ago

Anything is good by him...watch Yojimbo and then right after watch Sanshuro...Ikiru is great too..Kagemusha...

[–] garyingrey45 15 years ago

Yojimbo is a must if you are a Kurosawa fan - A Fistful of Dollars was based on it. Also Hidden Fortress is great.

[–] dave_wlogan 15 years ago

Throne of Blood is good. Another Shakespeare adaptation, it's MacBeth int that one.

"You haven't got the feel of this at all, lad. Use all your voices. When I bellow, bellow back."

[–] ThingyBlahBlah3 14 years ago

agreed, in recent weeks I've watched for the first time Seven Samurai, Rashomon and Ran, all wonderful films. I'd like to see more Kurosawa, any suggestions welcome.

I know your post is nearly a year old now, and I'm not sure how much more Kurosawa you've seen since then, but if you're interested in checking out some great non-samurai Kurosawa movies, try "High and Low" and "The Bad Sleep Well", both of which are set in contemporary (1950s) Japan. "Ikiru" is another masterpiece set in 1950s Japan, but you've really got to be in the mood to tackle that one.

_____________________
'It's a mess, ain't it, sheriff?'
'If it ain't, it'll do till the mess gets here.'

[–] nutsberryfarm 12 years ago

those are cool, too.

His name...was Julio Iglesias!

[–] Tenniskettle 15 years ago

just finished watching it for the first time, my first kurosawa film, a director ive been wanting to see for a long time and yes i can now agree with the film critics that he is a master. The story jsu absolved me into it so much, i cant stop thinking of the film and after just watching it i can tell its going to have a lasting effect on me.

[–] cokoholicar 15 years ago

What are you all, japanese?

[–] efa-3 15 years ago

I'd guess none are japanese, its just that Kurosawa has epic status among anyone old enough to chose his own movies.

[–] iscream22 15 years ago

I am a moderate Kurosawa fan and a big Criterion collector. I love Yojimbo, Rashomon, The Hidden Fortress and Seven Samurai is my favorite film of all time.

I have had Ran for a few months but haven't seen it yet. I think i'll give it a go later tonight, hope its good.

[–] cbaldwinjr 15 years ago

It's a Japanese King Lear. Kurosawa's master works were Rashomon and of course, Seven Samurai. This movie, while good, isn't in the same realm as those films. I stand by my opinion that the best movie of 1985 was The Color Purple.

[–] JellyFish19 15 years ago

Yeah, this was terrific. Perhaps even better then "Seven Samurai".

[–] Koko_BG 15 years ago

I just finished watching it too. I wanted to see "Seven Samurai" for a long time, but i thought I should start with some other Kurosawa movie and I found "Ran".
I don't think it was that great. Perhaps a little too long, very dramatic movie with dramatic atmosphere, but that's it. I mean I can't believe how people tend to idolize this director, and most of his movies. So far I've just seen only 1 of his movies and I can't be very objective, but I don't think the other movies I intend to watch (Ikiru and Seven Samurai) are going to be impress me that much.

[–] Suzume-san 15 years ago

I mean I can't believe how people tend to idolize this director, and most of his movies. So far I've just seen only 1 of his movies

Well, Koko, I think you'd better wait till you've seen a few more, or how can you possibly form an opinion?

Seven Samurai is very, very different from Ran - it's up-close, personal, rough and dirty where Ran is Noh-based drama, stylised and formal. The ability to create films in the same genre but so very different is one of the many qualities we admire in Kurosawa. Then Ikiru, one of his best modern-dress dramas, is totally different again. Do watch these and plenty more, and enjoy.

If you were in London you could see them on the big screen this month, at the National Film Theatre. I'm practically living there.

[–] Zentaurion 14 years ago

Yes, Koko, I don't think you would be saying the same after seeing Seven Samurai.

[–] Koko_BG 14 years ago

Yeah, "Ran" really looked like a Noh-based drama.
I saw "Ikiru" a few days ago, and I didn't quite like it too. :D I mean, not that it's a bad movie, but "not my cup of tee". I think there's something to do with the fact that it has that specifical japanese style and the fact that most of the movies were filmed quite a while ago. Watching "Ikiru" I always wondered why he mumbles all the time, why did he did this unlogical thing, why did he do that, why they didn't just do that instead, why are they such hypocrates and so on. I just couldn't relate to the characters and could not understand their actions in a way, perhaps due to the fact that japanese culture is so different than the western.
Like in the scene in the restaurant, when Mr. Watanabe smiled at the girl, she was terrified and moved away from him. :D In the end, when he looked at the yakuza guys with this crazy looks and they looked stressed out and moved away too, I think this scene was hilarious. I understand that they thought "wow, this man is crazy, he doesn't fear for his life, he could do anything", but he was just an old, weak, mumbling single guy. Why would they fear him?

[–] autumnsoliloquy 14 years ago

My first Kurosawa film was actually Seven Samurai. It was definitely good but it didn't hit me like a masterpiece, which was funny because everyone calls Seven Samurai Kurosawa's definitive work.

However I watched Ran on DVD a few Kurosawa films later and I have to say, my mind was blown. For me, Ran is definitely Kurosawa's best film, in terms of story, character development and the overall atmosphere created.

I have yet to see his more modern films as well.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] imwithstupid_35 14 years ago

Its disgusting that no one mentioned High and Low or The Bad Sleep Well.

[–] j_money77 14 years ago

I wouldn't call it disgusting, just indicative of how broad of a scope Kurosawa's art encompasses.

I am full aware of how many directors, writers, as well as other artists that receive hyperbolic praise and get mediocre or corny works labelled as "masterpieces". With this in mind I say quite confidently that Kurosawa had several masterpieces ranging from:

Rashomon
Ikiru
Seven Samurai
High and Low
Ran
Yojimbo

As well as a couple of other near masterpices like Throne of Blood and the Lower Depths or The Hidden Fortress.

As well as some other good films like Red Beard and Kagemusha.

I haven't seen The Bad Sleep Well, I live in fear and some of his earlier works so I can't comment on them all.

[–] uncle_g1234 14 years ago

I just attempted Kagemusha, but for it seemed to drag. Is this another instance of Japanese direction that thinks slower means better? I loved the parts with the action. But, frankly, parts felt like Reds (the Warren Beatty movie) to me. I've enjoyed a few Kurosawa movies like Madadayo. But I don't want to start another movie and bail out in the middle.

_________________
Lynch all trolls.

[–] matrix5904 12 years ago

you must be me. RAN was number one until Ikiru toppled it with abandon